Everyone wanted to see Him heal the sick. Every one of us must remember that Gods salvation is available to everyone, not just to those who are deemed to be members of the religious elite. Jesus came to a stop right under the tree where the little tax collector was perched and did something that was completely unexpected. Therefore, he raced ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to have a better view of him, since Jesus was on his approach to him from that direction. But when a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, it is changed completely, from the inside out. By Zacchaeus actions we see his hearts motivation and by Jesus response we see Zacchaeus heart's motivation. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? Is a downhill scooter lighter than a downhill MTB with same performance? Jesus answered, Things that are impossible with people are possible with God. (Luke 18:26-27), Today we are going to read a story about another rich man who met up with Jesus. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. It is quite possible that Zacchaeus was guilty of certain injustices in the course of his customs collecting operations. Related Topics: Children, Children's Curriculum, Jodi is part of the Childrens Ministry team at Grace Fellowship Church, outside of Atlanta. It is a totally new creation. A butterfly made of plastic (or picture). When Jesus says to any sinner follow Me, and that sinner decides to follow Him, God forgives their sin and gives them a new life. No one knows me better than the ones who spend time with me in my home. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 shows that the rich also need Jesus. He could have used the crowd and his short stature as an excuse for not seeing Jesus but he didnt because he was determined to see Jesus. But Jesus didnt care about either of these things. There was no way they could have known about the final part of Jesus prophesy, which said that on the third day he shall rise again (verse 33). - maybe, Do distinguished people climb trees? Further the text says he wanted to see Jesus but couldn't because of the great crowd, so his response was to climb the tree. 2. Zacchaeus couldn't see Jesus not because he was short, but because his eyes were fixed on another god. This Zacchaeus was behaving very differently than the rich young ruler we talked about at the beginning of the lesson! The new has come! Zacchaeus the Tax Collector - Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. You are a member of Abrahams family line. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. Luke doesn't tell us why; perhaps Zacchaeus had heard that Jesus was not like other rabbis and that one of his closest disciples was actually a tax collector. List of Zacchaeus actions that I believe expose his heart in the text: "he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him". It is not known what Jesus said to Zacchaeus once he arrived at the tax collectors house, but the outcome of their encounter is revealed. He was a chief tax collector and was very rich. Now that he is saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them, all the benefits of salvation are his. If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Everyone who believes in Christ is a new creation, according to the verse above. is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, The righteous man Which reverse polarity protection is better and why? Zacchaeus was a physically fit man who also happened to be extremely wealthy. Jesus, on the other hand, was unconcerned with any of these things. Now obviously he could have responded in many ways - Lets say he walked away because of the difficulty with the crowd. Your email address will not be published. Jesus was delighted, but the audience was outraged that He had chosen such a deplorable individual to greet Him (Matthew 9:11). order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the However, there is another suggestion that Zacchaeus might have followed 2 Samuel 12:6, the second part of Davids judgment that the rich man in the prophet Nathans parable, who took the poor mans lamb and killed it to entertain his guest, instead of taking from his flock, must restore it fourfold. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, was profoundly transformed as a result of his experience with Jesus. Im still able to do the hand gestures to the music. He saw him and called him by his name! The old is gone! Zacchaeus was the citys principal tax collector and was known as the Tax Collector.. Zacchaeus (pure), a tax-collector near Jericho, who, being short in stature climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to obtain a sight of Jesus as he passed through that place. Gillman takes this to mean that Zacchaeus accepted Jesus invitation to invite him into Zacchaeus home and that makes contextual sense. The timeline in this story becomes a bit ambiguous. Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version) A plastic caterpillar was used as a prop (or picture of a caterpillar). Yes! The majority of Israelis believed that the Messiah would be a victorious military hero, rather than a little boy who would die at a young age. Wow. On the surface, it was almost as if Billy Graham had arrived in town and decided to stay with the proprietor of a downtown bar! When we notice a large group of people, we slow down and look about. Seeing a great crowd surrounding Jesus, Zacchaeus wanted to see for himself what this man looked like, but that was a problem because Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over. Nervous. (to the begging I give), arranged as such, places in the emphatic position. He came into this lost world to seek and to save it. Because of his presence and love for us, we will be inspired to accomplish things we never imagined we would be able to achieve: things like acknowledging when we have been wrong and putting things right. Its extremely possible that the Holy Spirit had been looking for Zacchaeus and encouraging him from the beginning of the story. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into the biggest tree he could find. Yet, he desired to see Jesus, no matter what. The realization that major changes were taking place within Zacchaeus must have been a harrowing experience for him. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.". He could not see Jesus because of the crowd. Im going to have to remain at your place today. As a result, Zacchaeus rushed down to meet Him and embraced Him warmly. So really, the fact that Zacchaeus was small matters little to the story. Jericho was a gateway into Roman-controlled territory and a major tax collection site, which is likely why Zacchaeus was so wealthy. Genuine salvation must lead to a changed life. And why? Are you seeing in your life the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control? Suppose a wealthy young ruler approached Jesus and inquired about the one thing he needed do in order to be granted eternal life. Climbing the tree was difficult, even for the youngest member of the family, who was just 18 at the time. He tried pushing his way to the front of the crowd, but that didnt work. I believe that the itinerant Jesus was going to do the same thing that he told the seventy sent out. ), Salvation came to Zacchaeus because by turning from his tax collecting, he turned from Rome and was reconciled back to the Jewish community. The inhabitants of Jericho were taken aback when Jesus announced that he would be hosting this known sinner as his guest. Zacchaeus promises were clearly not hollow, and Jesus was not deceived by them. When he repented, he paid back those he had cheated. Zacchaeus was greedy like that, wasnt he? God wanted the little tax collector to see that Jesus could bring salvation to every single person in that crowd, even a hated outcast like Zacchaeus. And if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay it back. Thats right. Look, Lord! he said. I will be glad to hear from you. Jesus wanted to spend time with Zacchaeus, and Zacchaeus was more than happy to become Jesus friend. It was inconceivable for the disciples to imagine the Messiah enduring pain and dying on the cross. Luke also records this but there is not such an emphasis on the Jews, because Matthews gospel was written to the Jews. I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. Zacchaeus changed. When Jesus made His prediction, they were not paying attention to the last statement, which declared, on the third day, Jesus will rise from the dead (verse 33). That was Jesus' missionto seek and to save those who are lost (cf 15:5, 9, 24). Jesus died for the world. The young man was good at following the rules, but Jesus informed him that being a part of the kingdom of God was about more than just following the regulations. The new has come! Application: Zacchaeus was curious about Jesus and wanted to see with his PHYSICAL eyes what all the commotion was about. Paul says Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom he was chief (1 Timothy 1:15). Ralph Earle pass by lightly because it is one that is relevant to us short people: The gospel is not simply for those who are tall, black, and good-looking, though. He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view. The more time someone spends in my home the more they know me intimately. Peter, James and John were the fishermen who left their nets right on the beach to follow Jesus! usfor it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree 14in It was the heavy cost of discipleship that Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke about in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, that Zacchaeus had to bear. @Soldarnal - Although Luke doesn't explicitly mention "Faith", using a cross reference to Gal 3:7 allows us to assume that Luke was implying it Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. Zacchaeus was a chief among tax collectors, and I'm sure his parents never would have dreamed that he would turn out the way he did. But now he just wanted to see Jesus. Jesus went from Palestine to an area east of the Jordan River known as Perea, where he remained for about four months before his death on the cross. He says in John 6:37 all that the Father gives Him will come to Him, and the one who comes to Him, He will by no means cast out. believer in Jesus. Much to his astonishment, the Lord called Zacchaeus by name, telling him to come down from the tree. The tax collector represents sin because we cannot serve God and mammon. When Jesus traveled through Zacchaeus town of Jericho, He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would celebrate the last supper with His disciples. You get the idea. faith. Jesus singled him out and invited himself to Zacchaeus' house for dinner, much to the grumbles of the crowd. When Jesus saw the picture of his own destiny in Zaccheus, he invited himself to dinner to finish the picture, since when he came off the cross, he went to the marriage supper of the Lamb. He cherished his wealth as much as, if not more than, he cherished God! After all, Jesus had come to save them from the likes of Zacchaeus and his cohorts. The Perean ministry of Jesus is detailed in detail in Lukes Gospel, chapters 10 through 19. Nothing about the butterfly even resembles the creepy, crawly, greedy, munching caterpillar it used to be. Scriptures of people exposed and receiving forgiveness: John 8:1-11, John 4. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. So Jesus told the man to sell everything and give the money to the poor. Jesus said, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. Why couldn't Zacchus see Jesus? Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was passing through town, and he wanted to see him. Not only was Zacchaeus the most powerful IRS agent of his day, but he was also a traitor to his own country, according to historians. They are so voracious that if you place one in a jar with a bunch of green leaves, the leaves will vanish before your eyes before you realize what has happened! I must be a guest in your home today" (Luke 19:5 NLT). They began to whisper among themselves. Zacchaeus descends from the tree and receives him joyfully (19:6). P.O. As a result, he raced ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus, who was on his way that way. They just eat, eat, eat all the time. Isaiah 1:18 says, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool (NKJV). However, not everyone was ecstatic on this particular occasion. 3-4 Jesus was heading his way, and Zacc The story is recorded only in Luke. But God was also working in Zacchaeus heart to enable him to see with SPIRITUAL eyes. Think it was more than enough to make tax collectors unpopular, dont you believe it was? Ironically, his name means "pure one" or "innocent" in Hebrew. As well as having a similar experience, we can also Jason Soroski is a homeschooling parent and the author of A Journey to Bethlehem: Inspiring Thoughts for Christmas and Hope for the New Year (A Journey to Bethlehem). Is there such a thing as "right to be heard" by the authorities? Weve always assumed it was a sycamore tree, and we still consider it to be one now. When Jesus arrived in Jericho, it was as if this was something he had planned ahead of time. God has sparked this same longing in the hearts of people of all ages many times throughout history, and this is not a new phenomenon. T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria. Conclusion: Have you had an encounter with Jesus? The trunk was close enough for me to embrace and work my way up, and when I eventually reached a limb, I was able to pull myself up and sit on it. https://www.learnreligions.com/zacchaeus-repentant-tax-collector-701074 (accessed May 2, 2023). His love is a never-ending invitation to repent and come to him. Meet Zacchaeus: Short, Dishonest Tax Collector Who Found Christ. Go into the world and preach the gospel. 19 Jesus was going through Jericho, 2 where a man named Zacchaeus lived. As a result of his short stature, Zacchaeus was able to go ahead of the throng and climb up into a sycamore tree in order to have a better view of Jesus. We are not required to make everything right in all of our transactions before allowing him to enter. Zacchaeus truly became a new man that day. May we be able to recognize its valuable teachings and comprehend them as grownups. As a result, the rich young ruler grew depressed and decided to leave Jesus. Zacchaeus encountered Jesus because He went about preaching the gospel. 5. It means seeking him with all your heart and doing everything he would have you do! Zacchaeus was the chief of tax collectors and a very rich man but in all his busyness and riches he was interested in seeing Jesus! Even though the OP says "why" was he saved, I think he means it more in the sense of "how," given the rest of the question. Is "I didn't think it was serious" usually a good defence against "duty to rescue"? Romans 3:23 says, Everyone has sinned. The text doesn't specifically say what we can we deduce from this action but lets consider a few things. Some of us recall that Jesus once stated something to the effect that it is difficult for affluent people to join the kingdom of God. (Luke 19:7) This tells us that Zacchaeus was desperate, almost obsessed with seeing Jesus. Feel free to find them in this specific section in my thesis which can be found here. (John 8:31-59), Abraham had 2 sons Ishmael born of the flesh and Isaac - miraculously born of faith! Does Luke 17:2631 describe the destruction of Jerusalem? It was a sycamore fig tree. A plastic butterfly (or picture). He was a prominent man in society and he wasnt poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will make good on my promise to reimburse them. As a result, please forward this communication to your friends and coworkers. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. All rights are retained around the world. Because of this, Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham (Luke 19:9 NKJV). There was a guy named Zacchaeus present; he was a top tax collector and a wealthy individual. He did this by climbing a sycamore tree. 9. People were forced to pay vast sums of money to a harsh, foreign government, and the tax collectors shamelessly tacked on additional fees for their own benefit. Meet Matthew the Apostle, Ex-Tax Collector, Quotes of the Founding Fathers on Religion, Know Your Bible: The Book of Matthew Explained. But Zacchaeus could not be stopped by anything. Because his name means "Pure." He was given that name as a baby. kingdom, not because he was a Jew physically but because he was a People were swarming about Jesus, and Zacchaeus, like the rest of us, was curious about what was going on around him. Ironically, his given name in Hebrew translates as pure one or innocent. Zacchaeus, who was of little size, had to scale a tree in order to obtain a glimpse of Jesus as he passed by. To them, he was among the worst of sinners. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More. And Jesus wants everyone to trust in Him so that they, too, might be transformed into new creations! In that case, thank You for knowing everything about my life; certainly, I can tell You everything about myself. Although he had achieved financial success, he felt that something was lacking from his life; and thatsomething had everything to do with Jesus. He had a birds-eye perspective of everything that was going on. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The rich young ruler had approached Jesus early in Luke 18 and challenged him to sell all he owned and donate the earnings to those in need, which he did. Hold up the plastic caterpillar or picture of a caterpillar. Once Zacchaeus has come down out of the tree the text states that he received Jesus joyfully. Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree by James Tissot. Zacchaeus knew about Jesus the whole time and was excited to finally see him. Before Jesus left the earth, He told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Jesus brought salvation and hope to Zacchaeus (Luke 19:7-10), 4. I will pay back four times the amount I took., Jesus said to Zacchaeus, Today salvation has come to your house. 1. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus as the Lord passed through town, but, because Zacchaeus was a short man, he could not see over the thronging crowd. Were Jesus and Zacchaeus previously acquainted? Luke 19:1-4 (NASB) Note to the teacher: Jesus was going through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem, where the events of Holy Week would take place shortly after His arrival there. Dont forget that those who knew Zacchaeus very well described him as a notorious sinner. If youre running away from Jesus or youre hesitating to come to Him, come to Him today. 2This is the only thing I Why are players required to record the moves in World Championship Classical games? So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. A man named Zacchaeus lived there. According to them, Jesus has accepted an invitation to be the guest of a sinner. Zacchaeus climbed up into the tree in order to get a better view of all of the attention that Jesus was receiving. True repentance means that you change your mind and turn away from sin. Zacchaeus demonstrated his repentance by saying he would give half his money to the poor and that he would make things right with anyone he had cheated in his job as tax collector. There is a possibility that it will deliver the ray of hope that they have been seeking. The Lord be with you. You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus "), Salvation came to Zacchaeus because Jesus had called him down from the tree and gone with him to his house. This would enable him to follow Jesus and become an active participant in Gods kingdom. For Zacchaeus, Jericho served as a gateway into Roman-controlled territory as well as a key tax collecting center, which explains why he became wealthy. As you recall, Zacchaeus is sitting in a tree when Jesus "looked up and saw him, and said to him" these words. I believe if you really want to know someone or be known by someone you have to go to or let them in your home. He defrauded his fellow countrymen by taking advantage of their helplessness in the face of danger. Say: One time a rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked Him what one thing he must do to receive eternal life. This was the right response to the Saviours invitation. Thus Zacchaeus motivation for giving is not to detach himself from his possessions but to make a significant contribution to Jesus mission to the poor. All rights reserved worldwide. ("The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.") Jesus was well aware of what was in store for Him in Jerusalem. Matt 8:5-13 (key in on vss 10-12 Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith [l]with anyone in Israel. In fact, he wasnt just going to pay back what he stole from people, he was going to pay back FOUR TIMES what he stole! This is an awesome question that has elicited several excellent answers such that I don't envy you having to pick one! When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Happily Zacchaeus listened to the Good Shepherds voice, and that made all the difference in his life. (Luke 19:3) Zacchus was too short to see past the crowd How did Zacchus become able to see Jesus? This was visible to everyone. Analysis of the grammar indicates that Zacchaeus is on the verge of a large shift in his understanding of his place and power as well as the nature of of whom this Jesus is. Look at Luke 10 - where the seventy are sent out. Upon seeing this, everyone began to murmur, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner, which was followed by further murmuring. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. The high and the low, the rich and the poor need Jesus. 11I say to you that many will come from east and west, and [m]recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ). No. Ill wait till He passes by here again some other time. In delaying his departure, Zacchaeus would have lost out on an unforgettable adventure. Due of his low stature, he could not see through the thicket of people to identify Jesus.
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